Former world ironman Phil Clayton collects third medal at Australian Surf Life Saving Championships

IT TOOK little more than a gentle prod from the children of former world ironman champion Phil Clayton to get him back to the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships - and his rivals are probably wishing he’d stayed away.

IT TOOK little more than a gentle prod from children Shia and Jett to lure former world ironman champion Phil Clayton back into the water at this week’s Australian Surf Life Saving Championships.

And his masters rivals are probably wishing he’d had a stronger backbone.

Clayton, the 2000 world ironman, taplin relay and board rescue champion, continued his revival at the Aussies today, teaming with fellow big names Wes Berg and Zane Holmes to win the 110 years men’s taplin for Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park.

BULLETIN’S KOOKABURRA CUP TEAM OF THE SEASON

Victory followed the 43-year-old’s success in the 130 years board relay (gold) and surf teams (silver) earlier at the event, with pursuit of more silverware in the open board rescue and open taplin relay still to come this week.

Burleigh Heads’ taplin relay team of Wes Berg, Phil Clayton and Zane Holmes at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships on the Gold Coast. Picture: HARVPIX

“It’s pretty fun rolling around the cans with your mates,” Clayton, in his first year as coach at Burleigh Heads after taking the reins from Berg, said.

“Wes is extremely fit and Zane Holmes is Zane Holmes (but competing) was more about having fun and if we came away with a win then so be it. I feel really young at the masters, it’s wonderful.

HOMELESS STAR NOT GIVING UP NPL HOPE

“My kids are both nippers themselves. They love it and asked me to go racing so they could cheer me on. It’s a pretty easy thing to do when they’re asking you.

“I think my first national championships was in 1986 and there’s a few guys going around the cans in the teams from then. As head coach at Burleigh Heads it’s pretty easy to get up and have a go.

Clayton with children Shia and Jett in 2017. Picture: Steve Holland

“It’s just an amazing thing. It’s still just as enjoyable as it was back then.”

Despite his advancing years, Clayton said he expected to play his role in Burleigh Heads’ quest for open taplin relay glory.

DOLPHINS’ WOMEN SEASON REPORT CARD

“The really cool thing about the opens is it’s quite serious. Being able to turn around and turn it on with them, I think we can be up in the top five.

“It’s just exciting.”